Luton

Luton's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and work life.

The population passed 200,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Luton increased by 10%, from just over 184,000 to 203,000.

The addition of almost 19,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Luton was home to, on average, 33 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it Eastof England's most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Luton

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Luton decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This urban area had the second-lowest average age in Eastof England and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 7,100 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 60 and 69 years decreased by just over 100.

About 17% of people in Luton are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Luton by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Luton

The number of people in Luton from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 130,000 in 2001 to just over 110,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 72% to 55% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across Eastof England (from 95% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Luton from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 35,000 in 2001 to just under 61,000 in 2011 (from 19% to 30%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 12,000 to about 20,000 (from 6.3% to 9.8%).

About 8,300 people (2.6%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 4,700 in 2001 (4.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Luton decreased by 17 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Luton by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Luton that rented privately increased from 12% to 23% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 16%, while the percentage of Luton households that owner their home decreased from 70% to 60%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than in any other local authority district across Eastof England. As a result, this area had the region’s second highest proportion of privately rented homes.

Southend-on-Sea had the region's next highest proportion of privately rented homes (22%), while the proportion was 11% in Stevenage.

Private renting in Luton increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of households in Luton, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Luton

The number of people in Luton that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 26,000 in 2001 to about 34,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 17% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Luton that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 96,000 in 2011 (from 60% to 47%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from about 27,000 to just under 50,000 (from 15% to 25%).

Just over 12,000 people (7.2%) did not state their religion, down from about 13,000 in 2001 (6.1%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Luton increased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Luton by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

This area saw Eastof England's third-largest fall in the proportion of single-person households.

Across the region, only Southend-on-Sea (from 35% to 33%) and Cambridge (from 36% to 34%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of single-person households.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households in Luton had only a single person, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage with an unmarried couple decreased from 8.4% to 8.2%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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